Mechanical · Machine and manufacturing · Final year project
Oil Skimmer RC Boat
A remote-controlled boat that skims spilled oil off water. Driven by DC motors and steered by two rudders, it collects the oil so it can be recovered.
What is the Oil Skimmer RC Boat project?
A remote-controlled boat that skims spilled oil off water. Driven by DC motors and steered by two rudders, it collects the oil so it can be recovered.
Key facts
- Branch
- Mechanical & Automobile Engineering; also suits Mechatronics
- Type
- Final year project · Advanced
- Suitable for
- Diploma capstone and B.E / B.Tech final year
- Build time
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Estimated component cost
- ₹13,900 – ₹20,500
- Guidance from
- ₹9,999 (Hardware / IoT Final Year)
How the Oil Skimmer RC Boat works
- The mild steel frame and fabrication forms the base that carries every other part, so it is designed first from the load and size of the machine.
- The DC geared motor provides the driving motion.
- The Servo motor rotates to an exact angle, used for locks, arms and flaps.
- Motion is transmitted through DC geared motor and shafts, which set the speed, torque and direction at the working end.
- The Tank, nozzle and plumbing stores and delivers the fluid.
- The Wheels / castor wheels allow the machine or vehicle to move.
- The ATmega328P microcontroller with base board is the brain of the circuit: it samples the sensors, compares readings with set limits and switches the outputs.
Block diagram
Power
DC geared motorServo motorMotor driverTransmission
DC geared motorShafts (machined)Working unit
Tank, nozzle and plumbingWheels / castor wheelsStructure
Frame and mountsComponents list and cost
Typical prices from Indian online stores and electronics markets (Lamington Road, Budhwar Peth, SP Road). Buy from one store where you can to save on shipping.
| Component | Qty | What it does | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATmega328P microcontroller with base board | 1 | Is the brain of the circuit: it samples the sensors, compares readings with set limits and switches the outputs. | ₹350 |
| DC geared motor | 2 | Provides the driving motion. | ₹500 |
| Servo motor (MG996R / SG90) | 1 | Rotates to an exact angle, used for locks, arms and flaps. | ₹350 |
| Motor driver (L298N) | 1 | Lets the low-current controller run the motors forward, reverse and at variable speed. | ₹180 |
| Rechargeable battery (12 V 1.3–7 Ah) | 1 | Stores energy and supplies power when mains is absent. | ₹650 |
| Tank, nozzle and plumbing | 2 | Stores and delivers the fluid. | ₹900 |
| Mild steel frame and fabrication | 1 | Forms the main structure that holds all parts. | ₹2,500 |
| Shafts (machined) | 1 | Transmit rotation and torque. | ₹400 |
| Robot chassis (metal / acrylic) | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹1,100 |
| Wheels / castor wheels | 4 | Allow the machine or vehicle to move. | ₹1,600 |
| Li-ion battery pack (18650 × 3, 11.1 V) with BMS | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹1,400 |
| Welding, cutting and machining labour | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹2,200 |
| Propeller | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Rudders | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Pipes and Joints | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Inlet & Outlet Pipes | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Collector Pipe | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Filter Mesh | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| RC Controller | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Mounts, screws, nuts and small hardware | 1 | Enclosure, mounts and fasteners, resistors (assorted), diodes and PCB / breadboard. | ₹470 |
| Paint, finishing and workshop consumables | 1 | Project overhead | ₹600 |
| Transport of material | 1 | Project overhead | ₹400 |
| Estimated total | Varies with brand, quality and city | ₹13,900 – ₹20,500 |
Prices are estimates for budgeting; items marked * depend on the exact size or model chosen. We confirm the bill of materials when your design is frozen, and components are charged at actual cost with bills.
How much does this project cost?
| Option | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Components only | You buy the parts and build it yourself | ₹13,900 – ₹20,500 |
| Hardware / IoT Final Year | Working model or guided build, Circuit diagram and bill of materials, Firmware / code with explanation | from ₹9,999 + components |
| Capstone Project (CPE) | Working project or model, Black book in MSBTE format, Step-by-step explanation | ₹9,999 + components |
| Diploma ITR | 100% working source code, Project report PDF, PPT | ₹1,999 + components |
No GST and no hidden charges. Use the cost calculator for a quote with your deadline and add-ons, or see all plans.
Download the project brief (PDF)
Summary, working, components and cost and viva questions on one branded PDF to show your guide or team. To get it developed, contact us on WhatsApp.
What you submit with this project
- Working model with circuit diagram and program code
- Project report or black book in your university's chapter order (block diagram, circuit, calculations, results)
- Presentation for the review and final viva
- Synopsis for topic approval, if your college asks for one
Mechanical viva questions on this project
What is the aim of the Oil Skimmer RC Boat project?
A remote-controlled boat that skims spilled oil off water. Driven by DC motors and steered by two rudders, it collects the oil so it can be recovered.
Explain the working of your project in short.
The mild steel frame and fabrication forms the base that carries every other part, so it is designed first from the load and size of the machine. The DC geared motor provides the driving motion. The Servo motor rotates to an exact angle, used for locks, arms and flaps. Motion is transmitted through DC geared motor and shafts, which set the speed, torque and direction at the working end.
Why is a microcontroller used in this project?
A microcontroller combines a CPU, memory and I/O pins on one chip, so a single low-cost IC can read sensors, make decisions in code and control loads without a computer.
Why is a geared motor used?
The gearbox reduces speed and multiplies torque, so a small DC motor can move a vehicle or mechanism smoothly. Torque increases roughly by the gear ratio.
How is a servo motor controlled?
With a PWM signal at 50 Hz. A pulse of 1 ms gives about 0°, 1.5 ms gives 90° and 2 ms gives 180°. The internal feedback potentiometer holds the angle.
Why can't the motor be connected directly to the microcontroller?
A motor needs far more current (hundreds of mA to amps) than a controller pin can supply (about 20–40 mA). The H-bridge driver switches the motor current and allows direction control.
How do you calculate battery backup time?
Backup time (hours) ≈ battery capacity (Ah) × voltage × 0.8 efficiency ÷ load power (W). For example, 12 V 7 Ah at 20 W gives about 3.3 hours.
Which material did you select for the main parts and why?
Mild steel (MS) is used for the frame because it is strong, cheap, easy to cut and weld and available everywhere. Shafts are made of EN8 or bright mild steel for strength, and parts that do not carry load can be aluminium or acrylic to reduce weight.
What factor of safety did you take in your design?
A factor of safety of 2 to 3 is taken for static parts and 3 to 5 for parts under shock or fatigue loading. Allowable stress = yield strength ÷ factor of safety, and each part is checked against it.
How did you estimate the cost of the project?
The cost is the sum of raw material, bought-out parts, machining or fabrication and overheads. Our estimate for this model is about ₹13,900 to ₹20,500, depending on size, material and the workshop rates in your city.
Which manufacturing processes were used?
Cutting and grinding of sections, arc or MIG welding of the frame, drilling for mounting holes, turning of the shafts and fitting of bearings and the drive, followed by assembly, alignment and painting.
Is your system open-loop or closed-loop?
Mainly open-loop: the controller runs the actuators for a set time or number of steps. Adding a sensor for feedback would make it closed-loop and more accurate.
Related projects
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Want to build Oil Skimmer RC Boat?
Send your college, deadline and team size. We confirm the scope, cost and what you will submit.